Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Articles from the December 17, 2020 edition


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  • County gears up for vaccine program

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    Light has appeared at the end of the tunnel as Wyoming began administering the new COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday – and Crook County prepares to do the same. The first doses are expected to arrive in the state within days and will be directed to the medical workers and first responders on the front lines in the fight against the pandemic. “We have an end in sight at this point, which was not true for many months during this pandemic. We have hope and a reminder that this situation is for now and...

  • Firefighters tackle late night structure blaze

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    Volunteer firemen from around the county came together in the early hours of Monday morning to fight a structure blaze at a county residence. Firefighters were successful in preventing it from spreading to a nearby shop. “It was called in as a grass fire, but it was actually a structure fire,” says Doug Leis, Fire Warden. “The homeowners called it in…The lady told me their dog woke them up barking and they looked outside and saw the flames.” The structure in question was a small outbuilding at a residence on Moon Court, near the Douglas R...

  • Six inducted into National Honor Society

    Dec 17, 2020

    SHS National Honor Society members, back row from the left: Baillee Heaster, Nevada Gill, Brad Kruger, Sherry Negaard, Rhianna Heaster, Lane Gill and Aftyn Marchant; front: Bailey Hofland, Brook Hofland, Briska Johnson, Echo Miller, Ella Bifulco and Levi Rudloff. The Wi Wacippi Paha Chapter (Sundance High School) of National Honor Society installed six new members on Dec. 9. Due to the pandemic, a small ceremony was open only to current chapter members, inductees and their parents. NHS has four...

  • Hospital remains at capacity

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    At a time when medical facilities across the country are inundated with COVID-19 patients, Crook County Memorial Hospital is now functioning close to capacity at all times. The facility is also taking on virus-positive cases from nearby hospitals that have run out of room or available staff. “We can take care of roughly four COVID-positive inpatients at a time, as long as our staff remains healthy,” says Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) CEO Micki Tucker. At the start of the pandemic, CCMSD did not believe it would be able to acc...

  • Seasonal closures begin on Black Hills National Forest

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    U.S. Forest Service officials began closing seasonal gates and recreation sites on Tuesday to prepare for winter recreation across the Black Hills National Forest. According to a press release, gates are closed to provide a seasonal refuge for wildlife, protect road and trail surfaces and other resources and provide for public safety as some of the roads are converted into part of the snowmobile trail system. Seasonally closed roads and trails are identified on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map...

  • Cards of Thanks

    Dec 17, 2020

    Our Thanks CCMSD would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Crook County communities! Because of you, Christmas in our county will be a little bit brighter! We wish we could thank each and every one of you personally, but since that’s not possible, we’d like to thank Decker’s Market, Crook County, WY Public Health, Bearlodge Bakery and Greenhouse, Sundance State Bank, Coffee Cup Fuel Stop Moorcroft, WY, Diehl’s Supermarket page & Corner Market LLC for graciously allowing us to place d...

  • Bruce Riley Cundy

    Dec 17, 2020

    Bruce Riley Cundy, age 67 of Sundance, Wyoming, passed away on December 8, 2020, at his home in Sundance. Bruce was born on August 28, 1953 in Deadwood, South Dakota. His parents were Fredrick and Mildred Cundy. Bruce attended school at Sundance Elementary and Sundance High School, where he received his High School Diploma. Bruce attended college for a short time at Sheridan County Community College. He then returned home to help operate the family ranch west of Sundance. Bruce married and was...

  • Violet Courchaine

    Dec 17, 2020

    Violet Courchaine, 96 of Beulah, Wyoming, died Thursday, December 10, 2020, at Crook County Memorial Nursing Home. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and for the safety of the community, the family has chosen to have private services for Violet, which were held on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 with burial following at Black Hills National Cemetery. Violet was born to Thomas and Nellie Knight French in Hertford, England on February 24, 1924. At age seven, her mother passed away and she was raised by her...

  • Clifford Allan Moore

    Dec 17, 2020

    Clifford Allan Moore passed away at home in Sundance, Wyoming, on December 13, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. He was 84 years old. Cliff was born on May 1, 1936, in Concord, California, to Walter Marshall Moore and Edna Marie Walter Moore. When attending Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange, California, he met Katherine JoAnne Cooper and as they say, the rest is history. Cliff and JoAnne were married on April 14, 1957 and to their union were born four sons. After Cliff graduated from college, he began a career in sales,...

  • Letters to Santa

    Dec 17, 2020

    Sundance Elementary First Grade Dear Santa, I hope you fly safe home after you come. Is there snow in the North Pole? I would like a Spiderman Lego set. I liked my presents last year. How is Mrs. Claus? How are the reindeer? Love, Collin Dear Santa, How is it at the North Pole? Will you please get me an elephant squishy, and a music box with an elephant in it? Thank you for the presents last year. I am trying to be good. Thank you for Christmas. Love, Kyndall Dear Santa, Thank you for the presents last year. May I please pet your reindeer? May...

  • Letter to the Editor

    Dec 17, 2020

    Dear Editor, To the residents of Crook County: I am asking each resident to contact the Crook County Commissioners and indicate your opinion concerning the forming of a solid waste district in Crook County. Moorcroft, Sundance and Pine Haven municipalities requested that the commissioners establish a solid waste district in Crook County at the December meeting. The decision was pushed to the January meeting on the 6th at 2:30 p.m., requesting more information and what support or non-support exists for the forming of a solid waste district. If a...

  • Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy saves lives and reinvests in Wyoming

    Martin Gubbels, Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy|Dec 17, 2020

    WCCA has been in existence since 2005, graduating 1257 youth. WCCA, saves lives, gives young adults one last chance at academic success, and offers them the courage to change. The National Youth Challenge model calls for cadets to excel at each of these eight core components: academic excellence, physical training, leadership/followership, health and hygiene, service to community, responsible citizenship, job skills, life coping skills. WCCA is a 5½ month residential program utilizing quasi-military training. WCCA promotes continued success...

  • This Side of the Pond

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    You may have seen on the news over the last few weeks that unexplained monoliths have been appearing in strange places across the world. The first turned up in the middle of a desert in Utah, followed by more in California and Romania. There didn’t seem much rhyme or reason to their location, as evidenced by the fact that a fourth has now appeared. It’s sitting on a beach on a small island that you can almost see from my parents’ house, as long as you wait for good weather and are prepa...

  • Emergency managers receive accolades

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    The two individuals responsible for Crook County’s response to a disaster have both received accolades this week from the Wyoming All Hazards Association (WAHA). The WAHA certification committee has determined that Melanie Wilmer, Public Health Response Coordinator, will be awarded the title of Wyoming Emergency Manager. Jim Mitchell, WAHA President, states in his notification letter to Wilmer that this is the highest certification that can be awarded from the organization. Ed Robinson, Emergency Management Coordinator, has meanwhile been n...

  • County man threatens Sheriff's Office deputy

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    A Crook County resident faces felony charges after being arrested for driving under the influence and allegedly threatening to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer. On the evening of December 6, a Crook County Sheriff’s Deputy was traveling south on Pine Ridge Road when he observed some debris in the southbound lane of travel. He pulled over, activated his emergency lights and removed the vehicle. As he did so, he reports that an ATV approached from the north and came to a stop behind his vehicle. The driver, identified as Franklin O...

  • $100,000 of marijuana seized during traffic stop

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    Two California residents face felony charges of possession with intent to deliver after THC concentrate with an estimated street value of $100,000 was discovered in their vehicle during a traffic stop. On November 29, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was parked in the median of I-90 near milepost 183 when he observed a pickup traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed. His traffic radar recorded the speed at 84 mph in a 75 mph zone. The trooper reports that he conducted a traffic stop and the vehicle exited the interstate, turned onto Hwy 14...

  • New ownership announced for local radio stations

    Dec 17, 2020

    On the retirement of Karl Grimmelmann, owner and general manager of KBFS-AM 1450 of Belle Fourche and KYDT-FM of Pine Haven, the two radio stations are set to be handed over to a communications company owned by three well-known local names. Tri State Communications, LLC announced on Monday that an agreement had been reached over the sale and was signed on December 7. Tri State Communications is owned by Crook County residents Ogden Driskill, Tyler Lindholm and Andrea Wood. Grimmelmann commented in the release that he is happy to retire and has...

  • Lindholm among Lummis senior staff

    Dec 17, 2020

    U.S. Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis announced a slate of longtime Wyoming leaders and policy experts who will be serving in key roles in both her Washington, D.C. and Wyoming offices. The slate includes outgoing state representative Tyler Lindholm. “Having experienced Wyoming leaders at the helm of my office is a top priority,” said Lummis. “Each of these team leaders brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will help ensure we can be effective and fast in delivering real results for the people of Wyoming.” Lindholm will be coming...

  • CCMSD court case officially dismissed

    Sarah Pridgeon|Dec 17, 2020

    A court case between Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) and ex-management company Health Management Services (HMS) has been dismissed, with both parties withdrawing their claims. A dismissal notice was filed with District Court on December 8 in which both parties stipulated to a dismissal, with the express agreement that each party shall bear its own attorney fees and costs. This brings to end a lawsuit that was originally filed by HMS, in which the company claimed it was still owed payment after the sudden termination of its...

  • Circuit Court

    Dec 17, 2020

    Speeding – Paula Noriega, SD, 90/80, $105; Kaiden S. Mayberry, CO, 76/50, $190; Brydan Smith, SD, 80/75, $15; Ross Davidson, WA, 91/70, $165; Jessica M. Odonnell, Gillette, 87/70, $145; Trinity Williams, Evansville, 90/80, $105; Kelly Powers, Buffalo, 74/65, $103; Rylan Douglas, SD, 87/80, $99; Paul Mortensen, WI, 50/40, $105; Lloyd Miller, MT, 89/75, $130; Lance Knittel, SD, 84/75, $103; Darius Vega, Cheyenne, 95/80, $135; John C. Seeger, Wright, 88/80, $101; Bazuwaremye Jeneseri, UT, 78/75, $5; Adam Schmidt, OR, 89/80, $103; Candace Winters,...

  • Crook County Sheriff's Office

    Dec 17, 2020

    Nov. 23 – Three VIN checks. Three traffic stops. Fingerprints for outside employment. Civil assist. Vehicle crash with deer. Welfare check. Nov. 24 – Three VIN checks. Two paper services. Two traffic stops. Executed search warrant. Assisted another agency. Fingerprints for outside employment. Suspicious vehicle. Civil assist. Two EMS pages. Nov. 25 – Two VIN checks. Five traffic stops. Assist another agency. Check serial number on gun in NCIC. Civil assist. Assist Wyoming Highway Patrol. Responded to alarm. Arrested subject on warrant. Two subj...

  • Sundance Police Department

    Dec 17, 2020

    Dec. 2 – House watch and business checks. Three traffic stops. Three bar checks. Three VIN checks. Investigated vehicle accident. Dec. 3 – House watch and business checks. Three traffic stops. Three bar checks. Assisted EMS on call. Initiated death investigation. Dec. 4 – House watch and business checks. Six traffic stops. Three bar checks. Traffic control for parade of lights. Dec. 5 – House watch and business checks. Six traffic stops. Three bar checks. Dec. 6 – Officer all day calls. Dec. 9 – House watch and business checks. Three traff...

  • Corrections director: 24.5% of Wyoming's incarcerated population has contracted COVID-19

    Tom Coulter, Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange|Dec 17, 2020

    CHEYENNE — Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 24.5% of Wyoming’s incarcerated population has contracted the virus at some point, and there have been no deaths from COVID-19 among those individuals, the state Department of Corrections director told lawmakers Friday. The figure, which reflects testing data from all five of the state’s correctional facilities, was among a handful of COVID-19 updates provided by DOC Director Dan Shannon to the Joint Appropriations Committee during its agency hearings Friday. Along with the percentage of inca...

  • Wyoming News Briefs

    From Wyoming News Exchange Newspapers|Dec 17, 2020

    East gate opens earlier for snowmobiles CODY (WNE) – For the last two decades snowmobile enthusiasts have been gaining ground as far as access to Yellowstone National Park. They will now get 20 extra days to access Yellowstone in the winter from the East Entrance. It’s an effort Dede Fales, co-owner of Gary Fales Outfitting, has lobbied for extensively. On Wednesday, the Park announced it will bump up its opening date for the gate from Dec. 22 to Tuesday. In the spring, the Entrance will now close on March 15 instead of the prior date of Mar...

  • Sundance coaches receive honors

    Dec 17, 2020

    Sundance Volleyball Coach Chelsey Blasczyk (right) was named as the Wyoming 2020 2A Volleyball Coach of the Year by the Wyoming Coaches’ Association. Blasczyk led her Sundance Bulldogs to a second consecutive state title this year. SHS Golf Coach Lisa Dutton (left) was named the 2A Girls Golf Coach of the Year after leading the Sundance girls on to win the state championship. Upton-Sundance Patriot assistant Lance Hofland (center) was named as a Wyoming Assistant Coach of the Year for his e...

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